Weighing-scale.



G. WALKER.

'WBlGHING SCALE. l APPLICATION FILED Nov. 5, 1910.

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Patented Apr. 29, 1913.

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G. WALKER.

WEIGHING SCALE.

APPLICATION FILED Nov. 5, 1910.

Patented Apr. 29.1913.

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UNI'FED STATES i t VF GOFY PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE WALKER, O F NEW BRITAIN, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR T0 LANDERS, IFRARY AND CLARK, OF NEW BRITAIN, CONNECTICUT, A CORPORATION.

W EIGHING-SCALE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patentednpf. 29,1913.

To all whom; t may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE WALKER, v-a citizen of the United States, residing at New Britain, in the county of Hartford and State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Weighing- Scales, of which the following is a `speci cation.

My invention relates to improvements in weighing scales and the main object of my improvement is an improved result in controlling the scale indicator, and in particular to have the controlling action substantially the same in weighing small and larger amounts. I also provide cheap and eiicient means for attaining the aforesaid object.

In the accompanying drawings z-Figure 1 is a broken out View, partly in vertical section. and partly in elevation, showing so much of a scale as is necessary in order to illustrate my improvement. Fig. 2 is a plan View of a portion of the scale beam and check connected therewith, the combined l i even with the best of liquid that can be had scalp and pin holder for the said scale beam, being removed. Fig. 3 is a detached plan view of the said combined scalp 'and pin holder. Fi 4 is an enlarged plan view of the chec ing cylinder and the yoke-like link for connecting the check with the scale beam. Fig. 5 is al vertical section on the line :n of Fig. 4; the cross head of the link, and the screwsv for connecting the link' with the check being in elevation. Fig. 6

is a side elevation of the cylinder. Fig. 7

the graphite or main a side elesaid pisis a side elevation of portion of the piston. Fig. 8 is vation of the metal parts ,of the ton, as detached from the main or graphite the use of retailers,

portion. Fig. 9 is an enlarged elevation of the regulating screw, and Fig. 10 is a side elevation of the yoke-like link or connecting mechanism, on the same scale as Figs. 4 to 8.

My. improvement for counter scales of is designed especially the scale beam type for various forms of scales that employ a pivwhich is 'due to the'load that is oted weight indicator, the movement of placed upon and removed from the scales for weighing.

As herein illustrated, the major portion of the scale, less its checking devices, is made in accordance with my Patent No.

' 909,486, ofJau. 12, 1909, for price-scales.

Iessary. 4There is also '.ohangein the consistency of the liquid may `cause inaccuracy 1n the weight recorded unless it is `watched with great care. I avoid-this expense and care by the employment of a pneumatic check and I make the scaleeicient to a high degree by a new but may be applied to In this particular scale the load receiving pan or platform 11 is connected with the short end of the scale beam 12, While an indicator 13 is pivoted to the long end of the said scale `beam and moves over a suitable dial 14. The said indicator carries a cam 15, over which cam a metal strip 16 eX- tends, one end of the said strip being se- ,cured -to a part carried by the said indicator,.and the other end to a hook 17 on the case A. It will thus be seen that the scale lbeam is almoving part that travels in re- -verse dlrec'tions under the influence of the load and that it is through the said moving part .that the .indicator is moved.

-In my former patent I employed a liquid check ofthe dash pot type. These liquid checks are fairly eilicient and have hereto- .ore been the only checks ever put into practical use for scales of the beam type. The

filling of the dash pot in these checks with Vliquid thatdoes not thicken or change its consistency,is a very expensive matter, and

refilling fromtime-to time is absolutely neca liability that the construction and combination.

While liquid checks have been employed j in scales of the beam type, pneumatic checks haveoften been used m spring scales, in which the draw bar carrying the load hasy a movement much greater than thatof the longer end of a scale beam. In these scales the moving part of the check has been connected with the draw bar so as to move with the load, and any resistance to the movement of the said moving part has a corresponding .effect on the weight indicated. That is to say the effect of the resistance is not multiplied, so that an ounce of resistance, on the part of the check, will make the weight indicated just one ounce less than the correct weight. These air checks as generally constructed require a considerable range of motidn in order to furnish much resistance to vthe movement of the indicator and consequently while the indicator is electually checked so as to come to a rest quickly when greater loads are being weighed so as to give a long range of movement to the check, there is but little or no checking action when the smaller loads are weighed and the range of check movement'is short. With a scale beam and a check connected to the longer end of the beam, the resistance at the oint of connection is multiplied several times, therefore any resistance at the point of attachment is multiplied several times in the weight indicated. For example, in a five pound scale of the type herein shown a resistance at the point of check connection equal to one ounce will develop an inaccuracy of five ounces in the weight indicated. Although the point of connection movesfarther than the load, its movement is much shorter than that of the draw bar of spring scales and consequently a long range of piston movement in the check cannot be employed to check the indicator as can be done in spring scales. In'the said five pound scale, the point where I connect the` check with the scale beam has a movementbut a little over five eighths of an inch. This makes the said connection move approximately only one eighth. of an inch in weighing one pound, or one thirty second of an inch in weighing one quarter of a pound,

and yet with my improved combinations and.

constructions the indicator moves smoothly and is efficiently checked when 'weighing even less than four ounces. In weighing scales, iaving indicator checking devices, it is not only1essential that said devices shall act so as to bring the indicator quickly to rest, but it is also essential when they have thus acted, that they shall absolutely let go and permit the scale beam to come to a rest with the indicator pointing to the correct weight. This I accomplish partly by the construction of the check and partly by the construction and arrangement of the combination. In order to control the indicator under a very slight movement of the scale beam, as well as under its greater movements, I employ a double ended Vand double acting pneumatic check comprising a double headed cylinder and a double headed and valveless piston, the one fixed and the other movable, the piston being slidingly fitted within the cylinder for moving longitudinally thereto with a chamber of confined air at each of its opposite ends, so that both ends of the check are always in action at each stroke of the scale beam whenever it moves in either direction, one end of the check acting by compression while at the. same time the other endis acting by suction, no matt-er which way the scale beam moves. For simplicity of construction in mounting and connecting the check, I prefer to employ a fixed cyline der and a movable piston slidingly fitted Within the fixed cylinder.

18 is a double headed cylinder vprovided ing or gasket 21.

lpoint of its connect-ion with the check.

`flange it may be seated upon and rigidly secured to the lower part of the case A, at a point directly under the longer end of the scale beam l2. The upper end or head of this cylinder is preferably made air tight by being made solld as if in one piece. The lower head or-end is externally threaded and is tightly closed by a screw threaded and removable cap 2O and any suitable pack- The middle portion of the cylinder on each side is provided with a longitudinal slot 22 for permitting the yoke like piston link to be connected with the double headed or ended piston 23. The length of these slots is a' little in excess of the range Aof scale beam movement at the The ody or main 'portion of this piston is formed of graphite in the form of a cylindrical block having a central longitudinal bore 24, Fig. 5, and a larger cross-bore 25,

at a ,point about the middle of its length. The relative length of the piston to the cylinder and the slots in the vcylinder is such that there is always a substantial length of piston closely tted to the cylinder at the ends of the4 slots in said cylinder when the piston is moved in either direction to the full extent of its'l movement. The cylindrical graphite block may be reduced a little in diameter at its middle portion if desired, but this is not essential. The cross-bore 25 of the piston is filled by a cylindrical cross-plug 26 which plug is bored transversely to receive the body portion of the central tube 27 that fills the longitudinal bore 24. The said bore 24 is counter bored at eachend and the tube 27 is provided at its lowerl end with a fixed head or flange 28 that is received in the counter bore, while the upper end of the tube is threaded and provided with a nut 29 that is received in the counter bore at the upper end of the longitudinal bore 24,-

whereby the tube may be inserted in the piston through the lower endand firmly held therein by the nut 29. An air tight joint between the piston body and the tube may be made by the employment of suit-able soft washers or gaskets 30.

The cross-plug, in addition to its transverse bore, is bored centrally and longitudinally from each end and the said bore is threaded or tapped to receive the set screw 31. The lower end of the central tube 27 is internally threaded and receives into it the hollow regulating screw 32. The said screw is provided with a head 33, longitudinal bore 34 extending from its inner end to near the head, and a cross-bore 35 adjacent to the head 33, and if desired the smaller end may be split as bestl shown in Fig. 9, so that it may be spread a little to make it bear with friction on the inner side of the tubeto the length lof the cross ends of the said arms are provided with knuckles to receive a pintle 37 by` hinge d which the said arms are j ointedly connected with the ends ofthe cross head'or yoke v38, the axis of the hinge extending transversely head. The said yoke'or cross head is provided with'an up wardly extended-middle member 39, the. upper end of which is perforated and provided on each side with a boss 40 surrounding the said perforation. Aside from the said bosses this cross head or yoke is afiat plate-likel member. The arms 36 are made'of thin resilient metal stiff enough to resist considerable endwise strain but at the same time thin enough to bend easily in the fiatwise direction. In order to prevent the lower ends of the arms 36 engaging the lower ends of the slots in the cylinder, I place collars 41 on the set screws 31 between the said arms and the ends of the cross-plug 26. This yoke like rality of members jointed together, (the cross head or yoke 38 and arms 36,) constitutes means for connecting a moving part ofthe scales with the check. lts const-ruction and jointed connection with the piston as herein-before described, render it very flexible and yielding so that itl is -not liable to cramp or bind the parts.- It is not only free to swing forward andbackward on the set screws 31 but it can swing laterally 4within certain limits. It may also be twisted from t-he positionishown by full lines into either of the positions illustratedby broken lines .in Fig. 4. It is capable of practically a universal movement as it may 'be moved to a limited extent in every possible direction.

The flange 19 of the cylinder 18v is `so placed in the length of the cylinder with reference to the fiat fixed seat on the case yA as to bring the said cylinderto the proper height. relatively to the scale beam. rThe cylinder is seated on the said seat -of the case with the two slots Q2 within the vertical plane of the scale `beam so that, as seen from the front as in Fig. 1, the arms of the yoke like link are shown in edge view while the cross head 38 of the yoke extends longitiidinally of the scale beam. The. cylinder is then made fast to the case in any proper manner as for example by screws passing through screw holes in the flange into the case A. The scale bealn immediately over the check is provided with a vertical slot 42. Fig. E2, also indicated by broken lines in Fig. 1, which slot is wide enough to receive the member 39 of the yoke like link and its bosses. lhen so received the yoke like link link comprising a plu-` is jointedly connected to the scale beam by a headless pin 43 passing through a transverse hole in the scale beam and through the bosses 40 of the flme'mbe 39. The said bosses make the slot in the beam so wide ork thick, that the length of the slender pin passinor 'therethrou' h would make the said pin liable to bend i it-were secured by riveting and thusprevent' the proper action of the scales as to the letting go function of the check.A I- therefore* leave the pin iinheaded and fsecure it against moving longitudinally out of place by means of stops 44 formed on the combined sca-lpy and in holder 45, one stop extending downwar ly at the front of `the scale beam and the' other at the rear so as to cover both endsof thelpin 43 and hold it in place while the body of the said scalp covers .the s lot and the beam and gives a neat finish thereto. The combined scalp and pin holder is secured to the scale beam by means of a screw 46.

When the partsfare constructed and combined as herein shown and described, neither end of the iston can ever be brought into contact wit the confronting inner wall of the, cylinderV ateither of its ends. The length' ofthe piston and slots in the cylinder relatively lto each other and the other parts is such that the strc-kei. of the piston will always be stopped lby the 'screws 31 coming int-o engagement with the metal at the opposite ends of the cylinder slots when there isa ,little space' between the end of the cylinder and adjacent confront-ing inner wall.y The"parts are also relatively con'- ystructed and .combined with reference to the movement of the scale beam so that in the complete combination thejpiston will never be moved quite far enough to bring the set screws 3.1 in contact-with either end of the slotsin the cylinder, hence there is always a chamber of confined air at each end of the cylinderwhich chambers vary in size as the airtherein is'forced fromone chamber to. the other. When 4the scale beam co-mes to a restas shown 'in Fig. 1 the piston is in its lowermost. position-and the lower cham` ber of confinedl air is then the 'smaller of the two. The piston is fitted so nicely to fthe cylinder :that itwill fall down slowly of its own weight andpull downwardly with its whole weight on" the scale beam, hence the scale has to -be adjusted to weigh correctly after the check is combined with the scale beam. By thus dropping down by gravity to thefull extent ofits downward movement., the check will begin to act immediately at the first upward movement of the scale beam due to the load placed on the pan. i

The screw cap Q0 is readily accessible fromthc under side of the Case and may be removed at any time to permit of the proper adjustment of the regulating screw and fined air which are acted upon, the one by compression and the other by suction, when the piston moves in either direction and hence they operate to check the movement of the scale beam with substantially equal resistance when moved in either direction. A piston formed mainly of a graphite block may be closely fitted to the-cylinder and at the same time move easily and smoothly..

A suflicientlength of piston is very important in' apiston thus easily fitted;

`When the scalecgheam is moved by applying or removing its'iload the piston, connected therewith as herein shown and described, moves with the scale beam in the same direction and to substantially the same extent. The air that is confined Within the two chambers of the cylinder moves to and 4from the opposite chamber through the central tube and regulating screw, and it may move fast-er or slower according to the adjustment of the said screw. The screw may be adjusted so as to regulate this` movementvery nicely and bring the indicator quickly to rest after a quite rapid movement with some vibration, or it may be adjusted so that the indicator will move at a snails pace and come to rest when indicating the correct Weight without anyv return movement, a re` sult which I believe was never before accomplished in any combination of a scale indicator and a pneumatic check. With the proper adjustment the indicator comes quickly to rest whether it moves slowly or at a. fair rate of speed, and this it will do when only a small load is applied to the scale.

By my improvement the piston and cylinder are .double acting and act by compression and suction at every stroke so as to check the indicator with substantially equal resistance when the scale beam and piston are moving in either direction. The efiiciency of the checking means is second to none and is believed to excel that of any air or liquid check ever before combined with a scale and its indicator. There is no expense for filling and refilling the cylinder and no liability of error in the weight indicated, due to a change in the consistency of the air. The air is wholly inclosedfwithin the cylinder and external air is'excluded so that no dust or dirt is drawn in to clog the adjusting screw or wear the cylinder and piston. y A

Although the indicator is efficiently controlled, the combination is such that the check never causes the scale to indicate an incorrect weight.` l

I claim as my invention 1. In the herein described improved weighing scale having a scale beam and a dash pot, the combination of a cross head having a central projecting member,a pin for connecting the end of the said member with the said scale beam, a pair of fiat, thin and resilient arms, hinges connecting one end of the said arms to the ends of the said cross head, and pivotal devices for connecting the other end of the said arms with the said dash pot, the said pin, cross head, hinges, arms and pivotal devices constituting means whereby the scale beam and dash pot are combined.

2. In weighing scales, the arrangement and combination of an indicator and a scale beam through which the said 'indicator is moved, with a pneumatic check comprising a piston and cylinder, one fixed'andthc other movable, an inverted T shaped lever j,

pivoted to the said scale beam by the projecting end of its middle upright member, and two connected arms, vpivoted by one of' their ends to the ends of the cross arm of the T shaped lever and by the other one of their ends to the movable member of the said check.

3. A pneumatic check for weighing scales comprising a cylinder longitudinally slotted on each side and closed at one end', a removable cap for opening and closing the opposite end of the said cylinder, a cylindrical piston within the said cylinder, the said piston having a longitudinal passage therethrough, a regulating screw for the said passage at the end of the piston adjacent to the said removable' cap, and a yoke-like link pivotally connected by one end to the middle portion of the said check.

4. In a pneumatic check for weighing scales, a double ended cylinder solidly closed at one end and having a removable cap for tightly closing its opposite end, a double headed and valveless piston with like relations to both ends of the cylinder and tthe air confined therein, the said piston having a longitudinal passage extending therethrough from end to end, and a regulating screw for the said passage at that end of the said piston which is accessible thro-ugh the said removable cap.

5. A double acting pneumatic check for weighing scales comprising a cylinder and piston slidingly fitted therein, one fixed and the other longitudinally movable,y the said check having communicating chambers of confined air at its opposite ends.

6. A pneumatic check for weighing scales comprising a cylinder having communicating inclosed air chambers at its opposite ends and provided opposite sides of its middle portion, a cylindrical piston within the said cylinder longitudinally movable relatively' thereto'and a yoke-like link connected through the said iston.

8. In a pneumatic check for weighing scales, a cylinder and piston, one being longitudinally movable relatively to the other, the cylinder being tightly closed at both vends and the piston being double headed and valveless, the cylinder having communicating chambers of confined air at its opposite ends for resisting equally in either direction` -posite sides at its middle portion and prothe movement of the piston.

9. In a pneumatic check for weighing scales, the combination of a double ended and longitudinally slotted cylinder with a piston formed mainly of a graphite block bored transversely, a cross plug fitted to the said cross bore of the said piston and screws' extending through the slots at opposite L sides of the cylinder into the ends of the said cross plug.

10. In a pneumatic check for weighing scales, a double headed cylinder and valveless piston with communicating chambers of confined air at their opposite en s, the said cylinder and piston being slidingly fitted with a relative longitudinal movement yand their heads arranged in like manner at each end with like relations to each other and to the chambers of confined air therein, by one of the said chambers is acted upon by compression and the other by suction at each stroke of the piston.v

11. In weighing scales, a lever, in combination with a pneumatic check and a yoke-like link comprising a cross head and two arms hinged to the ends of the said cross head by one of their ends and jointedly connected with the check at their other ends, the said cross head being jointedly connected by its middle portion with the said lever.

12. In weighing scales, the arrangement and combination of a lever, a lever-connecting member pivoted directly to the said lever, a dash pot comprising two members,

one fixed and the other movable, and a dash pot-connecting member pivoted directly to the movable one of the said dash pot members, the said lever-connecting member and dash pot-connecting member being jointedly with longitudinal slots on the i 'of the said pin -of a case,

undersi e link ivotally connected `by one end through whereconnected with each other at a point between -their pivotal 'connection with :the other arts.

13. `n weighing scales, a lever in combination with a pneumatic check, a crosshead having a middle rojecting vmember pivotally connected to tlie said lever with the bod of. the said cross-head extending vvlongitu ina'l'ly therewith, and a pair of arms hinged by one end to the lends of the said cross-head and jointedly connected by their Vother end with "the s aid check at opposit-e sides thereof. l

14. In weighing scales, a lever vin combination with a. check, Aa yoke-like link jointedly `connected with the said check by one end, a headless pin pivotally connecting the other end of 'the ysaid link with the said lever, and stops over the opposite ends for engagement' therewith "to .hold the pin against being moved longitudinally :out of place.

15. In a weighing scale, `.the combination a lever mounted thereon, a pneumatic cylinder `longitudinally slotted on opvided, at the said middle portion, with a laterally projecting flange by -means of which it is xedly mounted on the said case' underneath the said lever with the lower end of the said -cylinder accessible from the underside of the said case, the upper end of the said cylinder being closed, a removable cap for opening and closing the opposite end of the said cylinder, a cylindrical piston within the said cylinder having a longitudinal passage therethrough, a re lating screw for the said passage at' the ower end of 'the .said piston and accessible through the cap ed end of the cylinder from the of the said case, and a yoke-like the s otted cylinder, to the middle portion of the said .piston and by its other end to the said lever.

16. That improvement in weighing scales V which consists `of the combination of a vertically moving lever, a cylinder vertically arranged underneath the longer end of the said lever and in 'the plane of its movement, a piston consisting mainly of a lon cylindrical body of graphite, closely an easily fitted within the said cylinder with Va sliding longitudinal movement relatively' thereto, and, with the said cylinder inclosing a quantity `of air and constituting a pneumatic check, and suitable connecting means jointedly connected by one end to the said longer end of the said lever and jointedly connected by its `other end to the moving member of the said check.

17. In weighing scales, the combination of a lever, two c 1linders and two valveless pistons having a relatively longitudinal movement with two chambers of conined air, the

.V direction.

ends ofthe said two cylinders and of the two valveless pistons having like relations to each other and' to the chambers of confined air which are acted upon the `one by compression and the other by suction whenever the said pistons are moved in either 18. In weighing scales a lever, in combination with a pneumatic check and a yoke like link comprising a cross-head and' two arms hinged to the ends of the Asaid cross-head by one of their ends and jointedly connected with the check at their other ends, the said cross-head being jontedly connected by its middle portion with the said lever.-

19. In a weighing scale, the combination of a case, alevefrgimounted thereon, a pneumatic cylinder having-slotted sides at the middle of its length, and a flange on the sides of thesaid cylinder at its slotted por-j tion and by means of which'flange the said cylinder is xedlymounted on the said case, a lpiston within the said cylinder and a yo piston at one endlwhile its opposite end is pivotally connected with the saidlever.

20. In fweighing scales having a pneu` maticr check the combination cfa lever, a

cylinder longitudinally4 slotted at "its middle portion vonA opposite sides, 4a cylindrical gra. liteiblock fitted to the interior of the sai cylinder, ametalv .cross plug mounted in the middle portion of lthe said block,- and connectin screwsI extending through. t-he slotsat t e opposite sides ofthe cylinder into the ends of the said cross plug,i and means for voperatively connect-ing the said cylinder and block through the said screws, with the lever. y i .v j y 21. In weighing scales, the arran ement' andcombination of a 4vertically slotte mem'- ber, a dash ot, connecting meansv between the said' mem er and dash pot, one end of the said means being received within the said 4Jointedl e-like connected 'through the said' slotted p'ortionqof the cylinder with ythe said ',separably connected to the opposite end of the -said connecting appliance. y

23. In a portable weighing scale having a pneumatic' dashot an a regulatiii screw therefor Ainside o the dash pot cylin er, the

arrangement and combination of `a case, a cylinder closed at its up er end and having a .laterallyprojectin ange b means of .which the said cylin er is fixe ly mounted in a vertical position on the said case with its lower end projecting below the said liange and accessible from underneath the said case, and a removable cap also acces-A sible from beneath the case forvclosing the said lower end and for opening the same to furnish access to the lsaid regulating screw. 24. In weighing scales, the arrangement and combination of a scale beam, a pneumatic check comprising a fixed cylinder and a piston longitudinaly movable therein, an inverted'T shaped lever pivoted to the said scale beam by the rejecting end of its mid- `dle upright mem e, and two connected arms, pivoted by one of their ends to the' ends o the cross arm of the T shaped lever and by the other one of their gitudinally middle art of the said piston. (EORGE WALKER. p lWitnesses:

CHAs. WIEGAND, HARRY W. FREEMAN.

ends to the-loir, 

